Renault polishes the diamond for Euro-3
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As well as launching its new company name last week, Renault Trucks UK unveiled its Euro-3 truck line-up. The changes go well beyond cleaner diesels, extending to a high-tech dash, wider use of ABS and revised support packages.
Brian Weatherley reports.
• Renault Trucks UK has launched its Euro-3 truck line-up ready for the October deadline—but there's more to the story than greener diesels with revised ratings (see box). It has introduced a number of significant product changes too.
Rather than wait until next March when the threshold for the mandatory fitment of antilock braking systems is extended downwards to cover all new CVs over 3.5 tonnes, Renault has decided to supply all its new Euro-3 vehicles above that weight with ABS as standard from September.
As marketing director Euan Herron says, there is little point in introducing new Furo-3 models now, only to make further changes to them next January.
Other chassis revisions include the extension of allround discs on the Midlum up to 16 tonnes, and the debut of a new Premium heavy duty rigid tipper/ skip model with a hub-reduction drive axle. Kerax 6x4 and 8x4 multi-wheelers also get an improved back bogie, which is said to combine better articulation and traction with enhanced durability.
The most significant changes, however, are found inside the cab with all Mascotts, Midlums, Keraxes, Premiums and Magnums sporting new interiors and dashboards. For Midlum and above Renault has adopted what it calls the AFFI 2000 dashboard which, as well as all the standard instrument panel features, consolidates the displays for the electronic tachograph, engine ECU, vehicle computer and radio.
The AFFI 2000 dash is subdivided into three basic display areas: • The "comfort zone", consisting primarily of radio display, outside temperature readout, side/headlights, retarder and park-brake warning lights; • The "driver zone", which houses the standard speedo; rev counter, hazards, turn signals, ambient temperature gauge and trip computer;
MI The "vehicle operation zone" with conventional fuel, air, water and oil gauges.
The AFFI 2000 trip computer shows the driver a range of data including current and average fuel consumption, journey distance and gear engaged, as well as driving and rest time data taken from the tacho. The rev counter has a 'moving" green band illuminated by LED lights showing the optimum economy zone for any given engine revs. In the bottom left of the tachometer there are lights to indicate optimum back-pressure for the exhaust brake and engine over-revving.